Salt shaker



R. H, BALL March 24,1936.

SALT SHAKER H Filed Feb. 21,1935

WITNESSES INVENTOR QyIWOTZOZHIBCZZZ BY I V v ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 2 4,

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

Application-53:11:2 .7 7,606 7 I This invention relates to a shaker for granular material such as salt and the like. I

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a shaker of the indicated character which protects the contents thereof from dust, moisture and atmosphere, so that the shaker will not become clogged due to the contents becoming compacted; which has means to stir the contents to cause it to discharge freely; which has means to prevent unintentional discharge of the contents; and which has means to seal the shaker by the mere act of placing it on a table or other I suitable support.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will appear when the following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a shaker embodying the features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the shaker inverted; Figure 3 is a transverse section taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a view of one of the parts of the valve structure.

Referring now more particularly to the several views of the drawing, it will be apparent that the shaker includes a reservoir or container in for the granular material, such as salt and the like. The container maybe made of any suitable material, preferably glass, so that the contents thereof will be visible. The upper end of .the container is'closed and its lower end is open. Abase I l of metal or any othen suitable material in the present instance this is accomplished by internal threads l2 on the base for threading'engagement with complementary threads on the lower end of the container Ill. The base II has a central conical portion 3 which extends in-' wardly of the container, and said portion has a central dispensing or discharge opening M which is surrounded by a seat l5 embodied by the portion l3. By reason of the outward flare of, the portion l3 the contents C of the container may be discharged through the opening I4 over a relatively wide area. The base II has a contact face IS in a plane below the dispensing or discharge opening It, on which the shaker rests when placed on a table or other suitable support, to effectively prevent dust, moisture, and air from entering the interior of the container Ill through the opening I! when the shaker is not in use. by valve body !'I having a conical portion l8 and is applied to the lower end of the container, and

The discharge opening 14 is controlled the flange '24. The member 2| is heldfin place 10 within the container ID by the base II in the I lower end of the container Ill between which the flange 24 is clamped. The conical portion l3 in. relation to the member 2| provides a chamber 26 -which.is .in communication with the interior of 5 the container 10 by virtue of the holes 25, and said chamber 26 also will be in communication with the discharge opening [4 when the valve body-.ll is off the seat I 5. The chamber 26"sur-- rounds and extends below the inner end'of the discharge opening II. The valve body I1 is freely arranged within the chamber 26 and its movements are limited by the upper portion 23 of the member 2|. The valve body I! is always caused to return to a position in which the face 20 thereof will engage the seat l5, when the face It of the shaker is brought to rest on a suitable support. In other words, the valve body I! moves to a closing position in relation to the seat I 5 under the action of gravity. Some of the contents of the container enters the chamber 26 through the holes 25 when the shaker is brought to rest. The upper end of the container is rounded as at 21 so that the shaker will be brought to rest on its base II when not in use.

From the foregoing it-will be understood that the desired amount of the contents of the container may be discharged through the opening I 4, and that this depends wholly on the amount of' shaking motion given to the shaker.. By impart- 40 ing shaking movement of the shaken, the valve I body I! will be repeatedly unseated, thereby allowing some of the contents to be discharged through the opening l4 at the will of the user. I While this shaking movement is imparted to the shaker, some of the contents of the container will be entering the lower end of the chamber 26, will pass upwardly therein, and will then be deflected downwardly by the face 20 of the valve body l1, through the opening I4. 0

It is to be observed that the member Zlconstitutes means to prevent unintentional discharge of portions of the contents in consequence of the shaker being inverted out of curiosity. In this connection it is to be observed on reference to 55 Figure 2 that when the shaker is inverted some of the contents drops into the portion 23 below the portion l9, and the conical surface of said portion is deflects this trapped portion of the contents, away from the opening it into the lower end of the chamber 2', and thus prevents it from discharging through the opening ll when the shaker is brought to rest right end up.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that portions of the contents of the container i0 may be discharged at will; that no leakage will result if the shaker is turned upside down or inverted and then returned to its proper position; that the only way contents may be discharged is by imparting a shaking motion to the shaker; and that the base i I may be readily removed together with the member 2i and the valve body II so that .container Ill may be replenished with granular material such as salt.

I claim:

1. A shaker for granular material including a container for the material open at the lower end, a removable part on said open end and having a discharge opening, a hollow dome shape part held in position by said first part and the open end of the container, said first part having an annular portion projecting into said dome shape part providing a chamber surrounding and below said discharge opening, a. body freely movable within said dome shape part between it and said annular portion, said body having a conicalportion, saiddome shape part being apertured so that material may flow from the container into the dome shape part to be deflected out of said opening by the undersurface of said conical portion, when up and down shaking motion is large base portion integral therewith, said in-.

wardly projecting portion providing a chamber surrounding and below said discharge opening, and a body freely movable withinsaid small upper portion of the" dome shape member between it and said seat, said body having a conical portion, the base portion of the dome shape member being apertured so that material may flow from the container into the dome shape part, to be deflected out of said opening by the undersurface of said conical portion, whenup and down shaking motion is imparted to the shaker, the conical surface of said conical portion serving to deflect material away from said opening to keepit in said chamber in the event that the shaker is inverted and then brought right ,end up.

RAYMOND H. BALL... 

